Bali Beckons: Nine luxury villas and resorts on the Indonesian island

Updated on 19th December 2017 by Expat Living|

Hot destinations come and go but Bali remains a firm favourite for so many visitors to the region, and to the expats who lives here. One look at this roundup of fantastic resorts and villas and you’ll soon understand why.

Why we love it: Set on 1.7 hectares of unspoiled coastline, Anantara offers luxurious villas, each with a private pool. It’s carved into a hillside above the aptly named Impossible Beach and its with its wild waves, limestone cliffs and secret caves. Start the day with a morning yoga class, feast on Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, or just take in the views from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of your own private sea-view penthouse as you watch another of Bali’s legendary sunsets.

Ayana Resort and SpaWhere to find it: On the southwestern tip of Bali’s Jimbaran Bay

Why we love it: Ayana Resort’s Aquatonic and Rock Bar Bali experience includes a two-hour session in the world’s largest aquatonic seawater therapy pool, with water directly supplied from the underlying Indian Ocean and warmed to optimal temperatures. The pool’s 12 hydro-massage stations are fitted with over 60 jets to stimulate lymphatic drainage and blood circulation via therapeutic jet streams, micro-bubbles and geysers. Follow up at the Rock Bar Bali for a well-deserved Spa on the Rocks cocktail, or a G&T. The price for this luxury spa and bar treat starts from about S$75 per person.

Four Seasons Resort Bali at SayanWhere to find it: In Sayan, in the Ayung River valley, a few minutes from Ubud

Why we love it: Four Seasons at Sayan has introduced its first-ever wellness retreat, a three-day programme running from 24 to 28 October. Created together with Denise Leicester, a qualified yoga teacher and yogic healer, the programme is a natural continuation of the resort’s new spa concept, introduced a year ago, which incorporates authentic spiritual traditions, such as chakra balancing, Balinese Ayurvedic practices, yoga and meditation, to maintain wellness and peace of mind. The three-day package is perfect for couples wanting to reconnect, singles looking to centre and find focus, and business executives needing to recharge their batteries.

KayumanisWhere to find it: In four locations across Bali: Ubud, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua and Sanur

Why we love it: The Kayumanis collection offers an escape from standard hotel accommodation, with five boutique villa retreats in handpicked locations – four in Bali and one in Nanjing, China. Featuring elegant pavilions with traditional Balinese thatched rooftops within secluded walled garden, each villa has a personal pool and has been designed to harmonise with the natural environment; this includes the use of indigenous materials to reflect the landscape and culture of the destination.

Special offer:Expat Living readers can enjoy a promotional rate starting from S$275, until 30 April 2014.

Kemah TinggiWhere to find it: In Seseh, a quiet seaside village surrounded by rice fields on Bali’s southwest coast

Why we love it: Kemah Tinggi is owner-run, with all the attention to detail and pricing flexibility this allows, and is designed to be exceptionally family-friendly. Everything is arranged to guests’ specifications, and the four tranquil bedrooms, spacious gardens, freshwater infinity pool, pampering spa-treatments and chauffeured transport make it the perfect spot for a girls’ getaway or a boy’s surf-and-golf break. Frazzled parents, meanwhile, will love all the kiddy essentials, from pool fence and stair-gates to cots, car-seats and menu of home-cooked meals – and reliable babysitters, should you choose to take the short drive to Seminyak for a candlelit dinner.

Special offer: Mention Expat Living and get seven nights for the price of five, or five for the price of four, for holidays up to 1 April 2014 and bookings made before 31 October 2013.

Why we love it: Pantai Lima mixes traditional and contemporary design, combining Balinese and Javanese features with the latest in Western creature comforts. Each spacious villa has a 20-metre pool, five master bedrooms, numerous bales and gardens, access to a tennis court and a gym – and expansive views of the ocean. Among the dozen staff in each villa, the head butler is on hand to satisfy every guest’s culinary desires, with each team of cooks having been trained to restaurant standards. Villas come with a luxury car and driver for exploring the area and beyond.

Special offer: Mention Expat Living when booking a holiday in September or October and get a 20-percent discount.

Why we love it: These three ultra-luxurious properties are set along 30 hectares of sprawling landscape. The Mulia, with its prime beachfront location, is a lifestyle retreat with a focus on privacy and personalised service – ideal for a romantic getaway. Mulia Villas are designed with an emphasis on space and privacy and feature facilities such as hydrotherapy swimming pools. Meanwhile, Mulia Resort with its extensive facilities and activities is a great destination for family travellers and active people who enjoy the resort lifestyle.

What we love: The Sanctuary is a private villa resort located on 30,000 square metres of stunning nature just a few minutes from the great beaches and surf breaks of southwest Bali; it’s also 15 minutes from Tanah Lot, and 25 minutes from Seminyak and Ubud. Nine luxurious bedrooms include a master suite with private pool and tropical garden, six bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a romantic bale bedroom and a bunk bedroom that sleeps up to 20 children in 10 bunks. The dedicated Balinese staff – 23 of them – are on hand to look after each guest’s every need. Other features include a 35-metre infinity pool, a cinema TV system, a spa, a gym and expansive green lawns that serve as a playground or as the perfect location for a wedding.

The ShoreWhere to find it: Overlooking the crashing waves of Seseh Beach, Bali

Why we love it: This five-bedroom oceanfront villa offers wonderful views and glorious sunsets across 2,000 sq. m of secluded and well-tended gardens. There are two pools: a large infinity pool overlooking the ocean that includes a shallow area for children, and a 25m lap pool. The location offers a glimpse of the real Bali while still being only 30 minutes by car from Seminyak, 15 minutes from Tanah Lot temple and 15 minutes from one of the best golf courses in Asia, Nirwana Bali Golf Club. The villa is fully equipped with car, driver, cook and housekeepers. Other amenities include wi-fi throughout the property, satellite TV, a Bose sound system, barbecue facilities, laundry upon request, and in-house massages and yoga upon request.

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